Mop cleaner



June 2-1, 1938. c. DICKINSON MOP CLEANER Filed Feb. 8, 1937 Chrismas ELDickinsnn.

Patented June 21, 1938 A UNITED STATES "MOP CLEANER Christmas 0. Dickinson, Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to Acme Chemical Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 8, 1937, SerialNo. 124,722

5 Claims.

This invention pertains to a device to facilitate cleaning of dry mops, such as used in wiping floors, and applying dressing thereto.

The invention has primarily for its object to provide an exceedingly simple, inexpensive, and light, portable device, which effectively aids in removing dust, lint, and other particles from the strands of a mop, and retains the dirt for subsequent disposal.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the foregoing character, comprising a portable receptacle provided with an inclined screen over which the strands of the mop are manually passed in a striking downward movement.

Another object resides in the provision of yieldable means for engagement with the handle of the mop upon its downward stroke, toretard and cushion the same, and also cause the mop to rebound upwardly for a successive downward stroke, thus materially reducing the physical effort required in the cleaning operation.

A still further object resides in mounting the screen to allow shifting of the same to opposite, inclined positions, thus providing for brushing action of the strands of the mop in two directions by merely rotating the face of the mop one-half a turn, which eliminates the necessity of a change in the position of the operator.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention, parts being broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate the structural details, and Figure 2 is an end elevation, with parts broken away and in section.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the present invention comprises a receptacle designated by the numeral l,

light composition board or plywood, and mount the same upon conventional castors 4. The cleaning element, designated generally by the numeral 5, comprises a frame 6, which carries a coarse mesh screen 7. However, it is to be understood that a; perforated plate or transverse bars may be substituted for the mesh, without departing from the invention.

The cleaning element 5 is preferably pivotally mounted at its lower end within the receptacle, to permit selective shifting of thesame from the inclined position shown in Figure l to that indicated by the dot and dash line, thus permitting a brushing action upon thestrands of the mop in two directions, upon rotation of the head of the mop one-half turn. Otherwise, it would be necessary to make provision for manipulating the mop from both sides of the receptacle during the cleaning operation, and necessitate a change in the position of the operator.

As best shown in Figure 1, the front wall 8 of the receptacle is provided at its upper edge with a cutout portion 9 to permit the handle of the mop to pass below the. upper edge of the receptacle in the downward stroke of the head of the mop upon the cleaning element 5, as'indicated by the arrow a. During the cleaning operation, as the mop travels downwardly, with the strands engaging the screen, the lint and dirt removed drop through the screen and accumulate in the receptacle for subsequent disposal. Transverse cross bars l0 serve to support the cleaning element 5 in its operative positions, while its lower end is pivotally connected to a transverse support H by the straps I2.

Extending across the mouth of the cutout portion 9, adjacent its upper end, is a coil spring l3, which, upon the downward stroke of the mop over the screen I, is engaged by the handle of the mop, to retard its movement as the mop reaches the lower end of the screen, and then cause the same to rebound upwardly for a following stroke. Here it might be explained that the most effective method devised for cleaning mops, consists in bringing the head of the mop downwardly upon the upper end of the inclined screen, which causes an initial striking action that loosens dust and other particles adhering to the strands, while the subsequent scraping or brushing action, that occurs as the mop travels downwardly over the screen, effectively removes the loosened particles.

To effectively clean a mop, it has also been found necessary to brush the strands in opposite directions, and while this can be accomplished by reversing the position of the operator with relation to the screen, shifting of the cleaning element 5 to an oppositely inclined position permits the desired operation, it being merely necessary to rotate the head of the mop one-half a turn to present the face of the mop toward the screen in its shifted position.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily seen that a very simple and inexpensive device has been provided, which not only facilitates cleaning of floor mops, but also is a receptacle for collection and disposal of dust and dirt accumulated on the strands of the mop. At the same time the cleaning operation is materially simplified, inasmuch as the'downward working stroke of the mop is aided by gravity, while the return stroke is facilitated by cushioning means engaging the handle of the mop upon its downward stroke. While a coil spring has been illustrated and described for accomplish- 'ing the foregoing, it is to be understood that any other form of resilient cushioning means may be employed without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. A mop cleaner comprising a receptacleprovided with a cutout portion in its side wall, an inclined screen mounted within said receptacle at a right angle to the plane of said cut-out portion and adjacent one side of the same, and resilient means extending across said cutout portion and spaced from its bottom edge for engaging the handle of a mop upon its downward stroke.

2. A mop cleaner comprising a receptacle open at its upper end provided with a cutout portion in one of its side walls and an opening in another of its side walls, a slidable panel for closing said side wall opening, an inclined screen pivotally mounted at its lower end within said receptacle below said cutout portion, resilient means extending across said cutout portion for engaging the mop handle on its downward stroke, and means carried by said receptacle for supporting said shiftable screen in inclined positions at opposite sides of said cutout portion.

3. A mop cleaner comprising a receptacle provided with a cut-out portion in its side wall, and a swinging screen mounted Within said receptacle for selective inclined positions at opposite sides of said cut-out portion and at rightangles to the plane of the same.

4. A mop cleaner comprising a receptacle open at its upper end and provided with a cut-out portion in the upper edge of its side wall, and a swinging screen mounted within said receptacle for selective inclined positions at opposite sides of said cut-out portion and at rightangles to the plane of the same.

5. A mop cleaner comprising a receptacle open at its upper end and provided with a cut-out portion in the upper edge of its side wall, a swinging screen mounted within said receptacle for selective inclined positions at opposite sides of said cut-out portion and at rightangles to the plane of the same, and resilient means extending across said cut-out portion and spaced from its bottom edge for engaging the mop handle upon its downward stroke.

CHRISTMAS O. DICKINSON. 

